2005 Smart (Mcc) Forfour — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,716 MOT tests analysed for the 2005 Smart (Mcc) Forfour, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension. Its pass rate of 73.4% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (74.2%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 33.2% in the 150k+ group versus 20.6% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 21.4% | 1,008 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.7% | 459 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.7% | 457 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.8% | 321 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.7% | 318 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.7% | 220 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 528 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 486 |
| 3 | Wipers | 251 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 217 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 216 |
| 6 | Track rod end | 183 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 33.5% | 1,580 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.0% | 1,369 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 26.8% | 1,266 |
| 4 | Tyres | 26.0% | 1,226 |
| 5 | Other defects | 12.4% | 585 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.3% | 436 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 102 | 20.6% |
| 30-60k | 650 | 19.2% |
| 60-90k | 1,382 | 24.6% |
| 90-120k | 1,403 | 27.8% |
| 120-150k | 832 | 31.5% |
| 150k+ | 316 | 33.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 3,832 | 25.8% |
| Diesel | 884 | 30.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,336 | 27.5% |
| 2022 | 1,124 | 26.0% |
| 2023 | 956 | 27.8% |
| 2024 | 718 | 25.1% |
| 2025 | 582 | 25.4% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Forfour
Before buying a 2005 Smart (Mcc) Forfour, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 21.4% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (21.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.7% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Suspension (9.7% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2005 Smart (Mcc) Forfours pass their MOT?
73.4% of the 4,716 2005 Smart (Mcc) Forfour MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Smart (Mcc) Forfour?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.4% of tests, followed by brakes (9.7%).
Does the 2005 Forfour get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.6% in the 0-30k band to 33.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,716 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.